"You've made a grave miscalculation, Tyler," I said, keeping my voice steady despite the danger surrounding . My eyes scanned the crumbling hall, noting every possible exit and obstacle. "Trapping soone like is never wise."
Tyler laughed, the sound echoing off the ancient walls. "Brave words from a dead man. The portal you used to enter this realm has been sealed. There's no escape."
I maintained my composure, though inwardly my mind raced through possible solutions. "And you went through all this trouble just for ? I'm flattered."
"The Westwood family doesn't tolerate disrespect," Tyler sneered. "Your humiliation of cannot go unpunished."
"Is that what this is about? Your bruised ego?" I allowed myself a small smile. "How many Martial Saints did you need to hide behind to feel safe from ?"
Tyler's face flushed with anger. "Mock all you want. You won't be laughing when they arrive."
Daphne stepped forward, genuine concern in her eyes. "Tyler, this wasn't part of the agreent. The Exchange eting was supposed to be neutral ground."
"Stay out of this, Daphne," Tyler snapped. "Family alliances only extend so far."
I locked eyes with Cromwell, who hadn't moved from his position. "You played your part well."
He offered a slight bow. "Nothing personal, Mr. Knight. Just business."
The tension in the room was palpable. I could feel the Martial Saints' energy signatures drawing closer. Ti was running out.
"When I get out of here," I said to Tyler, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "and I will get out – the Westwood family will understand the true aning of retribution."
Before Tyler could respond, I unleashed a burst of energy, creating a blinding flash of light. In the montary confusion, I bolted toward a partially collapsed wall, diving through the opening and into the sickly forest beyond.
Behind , I heard Tyler shouting orders. The hunt had begun.
---
Three days later, I stood behind a simple wooden table at the legitimate Exchange eting in Veridia City. After escaping the Mystic Realm through a hidden exit I'd discovered – one Tyler clearly didn't know about – I'd made my way here, determined to find what I needed.
My table was arranged with precision: Divine Rank techniques written on specially treated scrolls, rare pill formulas docunted by my own hand, and even a mysterious jade tablet containing the "Cosmic Form" cultivation thod I'd recently acquired. Each item would be worth a fortune to the right buyer.
A middle-aged woman examined one of my scrolls with wide eyes. "This healing technique... it's authentic?"
"Every item on this table is genuine," I confird. "But I'm only accepting one form of paynt."
"Which is?"
"Ten-thousand-year-old dicinal materials. Nothing less."
Her excitent dimd instantly. "That's... extrely specific. And rare."
"I'm aware."
She handed back the scroll with reluctance and moved on. Throughout the morning, the scene repeated itself dozens of tis – excitent followed by disappointnt when my terms were made clear.
An elderly cultivator with a long white beard studied the jade tablet with trembling hands. "Young man, do you know what you possess? This 'Cosmic Form' is dangerous. It has driven cultivators mad with its power."
"I'm aware of its nature," I replied calmly. "It's still for trade – but only for what I've specified."
He shook his head. "Such stubbornness may cost you dearly."
By midday, whispers about my booth had spread throughout the eting hall. Many approached out of curiosity, only to leave frustrated by my unwavering terms.
"You're quite the talk of the Exchange," a familiar voice said. Blaise Rostova stood before my table, examining my offerings with casual interest. "Ten-thousand-year-old dicinal materials only? You're severely limiting your options." Thank you for reading. This was brought to you by *.
"Quality over quantity," I replied coolly.
She picked up a pill formula, studying it with expert eyes. "Impressive work. I could offer you three nine-thousand-year-old frost lotuses for this. Far more practical than waiting for sothing that might never appear."
"My terms are non-negotiable."
Blaise set the formula down with a sigh. "What's so important about these specific materials? You're turning down fortune after fortune."
I t her gaze steadily. "So goals require specific tools."
"Mysterious as always," she smirked. "Tell , how did you enjoy your... eting with Tyler? I heard it didn't go quite as planned – for either of you."
"News travels fast."
"In certain circles." She leaned closer. "Tyler's furious, you know. He thought he had you cornered."
"He thought wrong."
Blaise studied with newfound interest. "Perhaps you're more resourceful than I gave you credit for, Liam Knight."
As the afternoon wore on, my hopes began to dim. The Exchange eting would close at sundown, and still, no one had offered what I needed. The elixir I planned to create for Isabelle required a ten-thousand-year-old herb as its core ingredient – nothing else would suffice.
An old man stopped at my table, his eyes fixed on the Cosmic Form tablet. "Young man," he said in a hoarse whisper, "that technique will consu you from within. It requires a perfect balance of light and dark energies – almost impossible to maintain."
"Thank you for your concern," I replied politely.
He peered at more closely. "You have the Chaotic Body, don't you? That's why you think you can master it."
I stiffened slightly. "What do you know of the Chaotic Body?"
"Enough to warn you that even with your unique constitution, the risks are enormous." He tapped a gnarled finger on the jade tablet. "This technique doesn't just require balance – it demands sacrifice."
Before I could question him further, he lted back into the crowd, leaving unsettled.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows through the hall's windows, I prepared to pack up my items. The Exchange eting had been a failure.
"Excuse ," a soft voice said. "Are you still trading?"
I looked up to find a young woman standing before my table. She wore simple robes, but sothing about her bearing suggested hidden depths.
"Yes," I replied, not expecting much. "But my terms remain the sa."
To my surprise, she smiled and reached into her sleeve, producing a small wooden box. She opened it carefully, revealing a small, twisted root that pulsed with ancient energy.
"Ten-thousand-year-old mountain ginseng," she said. "Would this be acceptable?"
My heart raced as I examined the herb. It was genuine – and exactly what I needed. "Yes," I said, trying to contain my excitent. "What would you like in exchange?"
"Everything," she stated simply, gesturing at my entire display.
Under normal circumstances, I might have negotiated, but the ginseng was too valuable for my purposes. I nodded in agreent and reached for the box.
A wrinkled hand slapped mine away before I could touch it.
"This transaction will not proceed," declared an elderly man who had appeared seemingly from nowhere. His cultivation level was staggering – a Martial Saint.
The young woman bowed her head imdiately. "Master, I was only—"
"Silence, child." The old man's gaze never left my face. "This man is marked."
My muscles tensed, ready for conflict.
"Indeed he is," ca another voice from behind . Tyler Westwood strode forward, flanked by another elderly man who radiated the sa terrifying power as the first.
I was surrounded by two Martial Saints, with Tyler Westwood between them.
"I've just let you live one more day," Tyler said with a cruel smile. "How are you planning to thank ?"
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